We've got a vicious love
We mix our tears with blood
No clock will stop for us
It ticks by
We fight as hard as we love
We've got a vicious love
- Vicious Love (New Found Glory, 2014)
Kyoko did everything to avoid her father-in-law the entire time Kuu stayed in the estate. After a week of staying, she sighed in relief when he decided to go home.
"Did my father makes you uncomfortable?" Kuon asked.
They were lying on the bed after a day of working.
"Kind of."
He sighed and moved closer to her. "My parents divorced when I'm at Maria's age." He started. Kyoko can't help but curious about his life.
"My father is a known playboy, he has lots of mistresses, and slept with anyone. Ever since I was three, I already often heard them fighting because of my father's infidelity. My mother just started her career as a designer, she still needed my father's resources to excel in the business, so she holds on until she made a solid foundation for herself. Where she can stand without the help of my father. And then when I got older, mom can no longer take it and finally filed for divorce, and my father instantly agree, for him, he felt that he was set free from the cage called 'marriage.'"
She felt himself trembling, Kyoko placed her hand above his for comfort.
He softly smiled at the gesture.
"I was bullied at school for having a divorced parents, and lecherous father. That's why, at that time, I promised to myself that when I get married one day, I won't let my child to experience what I experienced. Seeing their relationship made me realised that love is not enough to make marriage work. Trust and respect are very important too. But it seems, history indeed repeat itself." He mumbled the last part.
She stiffened. Does it mean... He will still divorce Kimiko-san?
"But... You trust me again, don't you?" She asked nervously.
Kuon smiled at her. "I trust you."
Kyoko shyly looked away, mentally sighing in relief.
"Mommy! Daddy! Wake up!"
The couple groaned when Maria suddenly jumped on their bed. Kyoko rubbed her eyes, and saw Maria already wearing her uniform.
Kuon glanced at the clock, it's almost eight in the morning. This is the first time he woke up late, having her in his arms felt so comfortable and he slept very well.
"Good morning, baby..." Kyoko groggily greeted, kissing her cheeks.
"Mom! I'll be late for school! I want to have your homemade lunch box!" The kid exclaimed. "And I'm sure my classmates will be jealous again." She grinned at her mother.
"Yes, yes, I'm coming." She got up and let Maria dragged her downstairs.
Kuon watched the scene amusingly and went back to sleep. He felt lazy getting up early and go to the office that day.
After half an hour, Kyoko went back to their room, raising her eyebrow at her still sleeping husband.
"You're going to be late."
"I don't care. I'm the boss." He groaned, he peeked at her, and smiled. "Join me, come on."
Kyoko rolled her eyes at him before re-joining him on the bed, his breathing lulled her back to sleep.
In the mansion, the maid didn't make a big deal out of it. She resumed in attending the garden as the master and madam were soundly sleeping upstairs.
When the couple wake up again, it's already noon.
Kyoko shook him awake. "Hey, we need to eat."
Kuon groaned and shook his head. "Don't wanna."
"Don't give that kind of response, mister." Kyoko heaved a sigh. "We need to eat."
Kuon suddenly pinned her down, hovering above her. "What if I want to eat you, wifey?"
Kyoko's heart pounding on her chest. This is bad, if he decided to sleep me, he will know that I am not his wife.
Kyoko ran her fingers thru his hair. "I'm sorry my dearest husband, but I am not in the mood to be your appetizer."
Kuon stiffened at the contact. Damn woman! Do you have any idea how hard it is to control myself?
Kyoko didn't protest when he starts kissing her or he will get suspicious, no wife will avoid her husband's kisses... right?
They both stop when Kuon's stomach growled.
Kyoko laughed softly. "I told you we should eat."
"I was fine with not eating breakfast and lunch before." He pouted. "You really spoiled me."
Kyoko laughed. They didn't bother changing nor taking a shower before they descended to the kitchen.
"How filthy." Kyoko spun around and saw her mother-in-law, crossing her arms, sitting on the couch in the living room with her legs crossed. "It is already noon and you just woke up? Look at your disheveled appearance! What would Kuon will say if he saw this!" Julie scolded.
"I would say she's still very charming." Kuon said, showing himself behind her. Julie's eyes widened at his appearance, she never saw his son being unkempt before.
"The two of you just woke up? And look at yourselves!" Julie exclaimed unbelievably.
"Mom!" Kuon exclaimed, annoyed at her sudden appearance. "You come into my house unannounced and questioned how we move in our own house?!"
Julie tear up. "You now started to talk back against me just to defend that woman?"
Kuon rolled his eyes. "I won't talk back if you won't treat my wife with contempt."
Kyoko touched his arm. "I think mother has something to say. Why don't we continue our discussion over lunch?"
Kuon smiled at her. "I love that."
Julie gritted her teeth. Kuon changed, her obedient son changed because of his wife. He never tried to defied her before, he never raised his voice at her before!
Kimiko made my son disobey me. Julie glared at the couple as they head to the kitchen.
Kyoko made a quick, simple, yet fulfilling lunch.
"I have some business deals here in Tokyo, so I'm going to stay here for a while." Julie announced.
Kuon looked at her wife worriedly, as she choked on her food.
"You can stay in the town house." Kuon suggested.
Julie dramatically gasped. "You don't want me stay here?!"
"That's not what I meant." Kuon sighed. "As long as you stop being antagonistic towards my wife, then you can stay."
Julie glanced at Kimiko, then shrugged. "Fine, you are the master of this house."
They continue their lunch when Julie reminded of something. "I was actually worried when Kana called me, telling me you didn't showed up at the office. You never skipped work before."
"I was tired." Kuon stated simply with a shrug, smirking at Kyoko. She instantly blushed.
"Hmph!"
Kyoko huffed.
They stayed in their room the whole afternoon, until it was almost time to pick up Maria from school.
"Hey, how about we pick our daughter together, and then dined outside?" Kyoko suggested. Kuon looked at from the documents he was reading to his wife
Our daughter... Kuon liked how it sounds coming from her. He smiled.
"Let's do that. Since it was my beloved wife who suggested it."
Kyoko mentally facepalmed. This is bad! His smile is very bad for my heart!
Julie was on the living room with her designs when she saw the two of them descended from the stairs, all dressed up, and holding each other's hands.
"You are going out?" She asked, confused.
Kyoko smiled at her. "Yes mother. We will pick Maria from school."
Julie hummed. "Alright."
Kuon kissed her mother goodbye, and Kyoko did the same.
"I won't be fooled by your nice girl act." Julie hissed at her sharply.
Kyoko was stunned, but she kept the smile on her face.
Kyoko mentally heaved a sigh of relief when she's finally inside the car.
"Where do you want to have dinner?" Kuon asked.
"Your choice."
"Do you want to invite Mogami-san and your new friends?"
Kyoko snapped her head at him. "C-Can I?"
Kuon softly smiled and patted her head. "Of course." Kyoko nodded at him. "Call them, tell them to meet us in the restaurant."
Kyoko was fast on her phone telling Kanae and Chiori to bring her mother in the restaurant where they dined before.
Maria was joyous seeing her parents personally picked her up from school. Her nanny and driver went home ahead of them.
In the restaurant, Kanae and Chiori gaped seeing Kyoko with her husband and daughter.
"I really wonder why Hizuri-san fall for that ugly woman." Kanae mumbled.
"Hey, its Kyoko-chan..." Chiori reminded her.
Kanae rolled her eyes. "I know, but her face is that bitch. If Kyoko will have her face back, I'm sure Hizuri-san will fall for her."
Saena sighed. "Hizuri-san is already married. I don't want Kyoko to be involved in that scheme deeper than necessary."
"He can always divorce her." Chiori commented.
"True..." Kanae nodded. "With such weak excuse, he didn't know that his daughter is already living in a 'broken family' from the moment Kimiko-san chose to cheat on him."
"I don't want you to encourage my daughter to developed romantic feelings for Hizuri-san. I don't want her to get hurt in the end."
"Yes, auntie..." The two mumbled softly.
When the three arrived in their table, they politely bowed at Kuon.
"You are my wife's friends, no need to be courteous."
Kyoko slightly blushed every time he addressed her as my wife, and Kanae teasingly smirked at her, and Chiori wiggled her eyebrows.
"I want you to introduced my daughter, Maria."
"Sooo cute~~" Chiori gushed.
"Maria, these are my friends, Kanae and Chiori, and..." Kyoko glanced at her mother. She didn't know what to call her in front of the kid.
"Your aunt Saena." Kuon filled in for her. "Your mother helped your aunt Saena from her sickness."
Maria gasped. "Oh..." The kid bowed at her. "How do you do, auntie?"
Saena smiled at patted the kid's head. "I am fine. It is thanks to your mother that I am getting better."
Maria beamed at Kyoko. "I knew it! Mother is like a heroine in every story! She helps people."
Kyoko's eyebrow twitched. "Yeah..."
They sat on the table and ordered food, Maria warms up quickly with her friends and mother. She told them how she saved her from almost drowning, and on how she admired her since then.
Kuon was pleased seeing the satisfied expression on her face.
The dinner was pleasant, Kuon even compared the dinner he has with either of his parents to Kyoko's.
With them, it warm and full of laughter, but with his own parents, its cold, serious, and silent.
In the corner, Kana snapped a picture of them and sent it to Julie. The woman called her to follow Kuon and Kimiko, she waited at them in the corner of Maria's school and followed them to the restaurant.
Kana was surprised at the people associating them, they are nothing but commoners! Kuon, no, even Kimiko never associated herself to commoners ever since she married Kuon. Her pride won't even let herself talk with them, that's why she only have one friend – and that's Ruriko, daughter of some rich business man.
In the mansion, Julie widened her eyes seeing the picture.
"Something is not really right..." She mumbled. "Kuon won't do this! That bitch changed my son! She let him stoop so low at their level! She made Kuon a laughing stock to the public!"
Inui rushed to the living when she heard Julie yelled.
"Ma'am... Please calm down."
Julie glared at the maid, without anyone to vent her anger, she grabbed the maid hair. "How dare you tell me what to do! You are just a maid, know your place!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Inui cried.
But Julie was still angry from the picture and beat her until she was satisfied. When she felt she vented enough, she huffed and went upstairs.
Shoko helped Inui to stand. Their master's mother really has a loose screws in her head, she's scary when angry. And all she has in her head is her son.
"Why is she here anyway?" Shoko spat, she's attending her cuts on the couch.
Inui sighed. "She is Kuon-sama's mother, we can't stop her if she wanted to stay here – ouch!"
"Sorry..." Shoko sheepishly grinned at her.
Shoko attending Inui's wounds was the scene Kyoko, Kuon, and Maria saw upon entering the mansion.
"What happen to you?!" Kyoko exclaimed, rushing to her. "Who did this?!"
The maid nervously glanced at Kuon and man already knew who.
He cursed under his breath. Seeing him starting to get angry, Kyoko already knew the drill, she asked Shoko to bring Maria to her room.
Kyoko attended her wounds in place of Shoko.
"What happen? Did you offend her?" Kyoko softly asked. The maid shook her head.
"She's looking at her phone when I heard her yelling." She mumbled, she sniffed the tears back.
"Shh... It's alright... It's alright." She rubbed her back softly. Kyoko glanced at her husband. "You too Kuon, calm down for a moment. It's your mother, don't be too rash."
"I don't care of its my mother or not. She hit an innocent person!" He exclaimed.
She sighed and turned her attention to the maid. "You need to rest. No need to get up early tomorrow too, I can handle the chores in the kitchen."
Inui stared at her. "T-Thank you... madam." The maid bowed at them before she retreated to the maid's quarter.
"Come on, you need to cool down before confronting her."
Kuon followed her upstairs, to their bedroom.
Kyoko massaged his head. "Don't be too harsh on her, okay? Just ask her why she did that."
Kuon heaved a long sigh before grumbling. "Fine... as you wish, my wife."
Kyoko leaned over and kiss his head. "Good."
Julie was startled when the guest room door abruptly opened.
"Kuon!" She sighed in relief.
"Mom why did you that?!" He asked, controlling himself not to snapped at her. "Did you know what you've done to the poor maid?!"
"I'm just teaching her a lesson!" She defended. "I saw you in the restaurant together with those lowly people." She glared at him. "My god Kuon! Since when did you start linking yourself to those kind of people? They are opportunists!"
"Mom, stop talking like you knew them!"
"You are defending them now too?!" She gasped in disbelief. "What did that woman do to you to make you obey her?!"
"Nothing!"
Julie crossed her arms, huffing. "You are not like this. You are suspicious in every people Kimiko associated with, but this time, you actually dined with them, together with Maria?"
"You have me followed?" Kuon narrowed his eyes, and Julie started to dropped some sweat.
She stepped back when Kuon approached her.
"You asked someone to spy on us?!" He growled.
"I am just worried!" She reason out. "In case of something will happen when you are with Kimiko, at least I got your back!"
Kuon rubbed the bridge of his nose. His mother is closely on having a paranoia. He was thinking of sending her to the states to get a treatment.
"Mom... my wife –"
"That too!" Julie cut off. "You always said my wife this, my wife that. Why won't you say her damn name?!"
"Because I don't want to!" He yelled back. "Why would you pry in every thing I do to my wife?"
"Because I don't like her!" Julie yelled, panting. "Ever since from the very beginning I want you to marry Kana, but you defied me to marry that woman whom you pick from the slums and was only after your money!"
Kuon heaved a sigh, arguing with his mother is tiring. "I told you that you can stay if you won't be antagonistic towards my wife, didn't I?"
Julie widened her eyes in disbelief. "You will kick me out? I won't let you do that, I am still your mother and she's just your wife!"
"I know you won't leave." Julie huffed in agreement. "That's why we are the one who will leave the house. Call a maid that can serve you, I won't let my maid get beaten because of you, are throwing a tantrum." He said before leaving the guest room, leaving Julie stunned, and speechless.
Kyoko was nervous as she and Maria waited in the car, before he went to talk to her mother in the guest room, he asked her to pack their things. He also ordered Shoko to pack Maria's things, and their (Shoko and Inui) things.
"Mommy, will we go to the rest house and leave grandma here alone?" Maria asked softly from the backseat.
Kyoko turned at her. "I don't know baby... Daddy only asked me to pack."
"I wonder why daddy got mad at grandma..." Maria mumbled softly.
They saw Kuon coming to the garage, opening the driver's seat and closing with it slam.
"Hey!" Kyoko scolded when car slightly shook from the force. "Let me take the wheels." She said. "I don't want you to drive while being angry."
Kuon sighed. "I'm fine..." He started the engine and drives to one of the hotels that his company owned.
Kyoko and Maria were both silent throughout the drive. Seeing her mother didn't asked her father what happened, she did the same.
The receptionists were surprised seeing the owner together with his family, they bowed at them and have the bellhops carried their luggage.
The president's room is on the top floor, overlooking the breath-taking view of the city at night.
"Wow..." Kyoko gasped, forgetting the reasons why they are here in the first place.
Seeing her reaction, Kuon finally let out a smile. "Do you like it?" He asked, standing behind her.
Kyoko nodded. "It's so beautiful..." Kuon hugged her and inhaled her scent.
He closed her eyes, her scent is like a drug that can calmed his nerves. Kyoko froze when he slowly starts kissing her neck and moved his hands.
She gulped.
Kana can even heard Julie screaming in the guest room, she called her, crying, telling her how Kuon left her.
Kana found it impossible for Kuon to do that to his mother, she thought Julie was just bluffing, but the cold house which welcomed her tells her otherwise.
"Kana!" Julie cried seeing the woman. "Did you see?! That bitch bewitched my son!"
Kana has no choice but to comfort her. "Auntie, calm down... I can't believe Kuon did this to you."
"Right? Right?!" Julie exclaimed in agreement. "I don't know what he sees in her! I thought he's going to divorce her soon! But look! He chose her over me, his own mother!"
"Auntie... did you take your medicines?" She asked, referring to her medication against anxiety.
Julie stared at her, she slowly shook her head.
Kana sighed. No wonder why you acted like that... Kana took the bottle of pills from the table and helped her drink it.
Julie gulped the tablets and sat on the bed, sniffing.
"Kuon no longer loves me..." She mumbled.
"Auntie, don't say that... Kuon is no longer a kid whom you can still control. He can now make a decision for himself, but it doesn't mean he no longer loves you."
Julie clenched her fists. "It's because of that bitch! She changed my son!"
"No, auntie..." Kana narrowed her eyes at the thought. "It is more accurate to say that Kimiko changed..."
Julie stared at Kana, widening her eyes.
"Kimiko changed, so does Kuon's treatment towards her..." Kana stated. "He starts being affectionate towards her at some point, I don't know when exactly was that, but I am sure of it."
"That bitch... changed?" Julie mumbled.
Kana nodded. "Kimiko hates chocolate, but I caught her eating chocolate ice cream once, and now, she knows how to cook and swim. No matter how much she studied it, knowing her being lazy, I doubt she can do it accurately."
"You are right..." Julie thought for a moment. "All we need is an evidence, then Kuon will hate her."
"That's why auntie, hold on your anger... Seeing that Kuon is being smitten with this woman, we can't afford to offend her or Kuon will get angry at us too."
Julie looked down, fidgeting on her fingers, before she slowly nodded.
"Fine... I will apologize tomorrow..."
Kana smiled at her. "Good... Then we can unmasked that woman who pretended to be Kimiko to seduced Kuon."
Julie's eyes become sharp.
"Yes! I will save my son from her clutches! If I will see that bitch tomorrow, help me to uncover her lies!"
Kana nodded eagerly.
"Yes auntie."
Ruriko was glancing at her watch, she's in one of the cafés in the airport, waiting for someone to arrive. The glass door opened, showing her friend, wearing a red dress, with black heels, with red lipstick painted over her luscious lips. She's wearing a hat and shades to cover her face.
"Hello, Japan!" Kimiko exclaimed cheerfully. "The real Hizuri Kimiko is back!"
Ruriko clapped her hands. "Wow... That's the Kimiko that I know."
Kimiko rolled her eyes. "Duh! Of course!"
"So? What makes you come back earlier than schedule?"
Kimiko slowly removed her shades and smirked at her best friend.
"Time's up for the replacement. I am here to take back what is rightfully and legally mine."